Bolton: Residents call for more after vehicle damage

It comes as police arrested a man last Saturday, after reports of damage to several vehicles in the past few weeks.

Some of the residents who were affected spoke out about the response to the problem during a police surgery on Monday.

The residents say that last Friday the man was spotted by a resident scratching cars, and when he realised, he hopped into another residents garden, where they were able to get a picture and send it to the police.

One of the residents that this happened to said: “We want to know that something is going to be done about this.

“It got to the point where people in the community have had to put themselves in a potentially very dangerous situation.

Residents call for more action after series of damaged vehicles

“We need police to step up their presence where we know something is going on.

“People are having to put cameras in place, which costs a lot of money.

“It’s a huge issue in the area, and how it has been dealt with is insufficient.

“I think there should be something in place that recognises the harm being caused.”       

This is the second time that this has happened to this resident, and he says that dozens have been affected by this in the area for the past four weeks.   

•  Bolton police make arrest after stepping up patrols in Astley Bridge                

PCSO Emma Goddard says that when it comes to policing in the area, she does understand that it is an issue and would like more officers, but that residents have to express this on the GMP website for officers in higher positions to consider this.

And while the police rely "heavily on the community for information" she would never want residents to put themselves in danger.

She added: “We can’t do anything without residents reporting incidents.

“But we never want anyone to put themselves in danger.

“We are just asking for residents to share anything with us if they have anything that would be helpful, rather than going to get CCTV.

“I know there are a lot of angry people that want answers right now, and I feel for you all.

Residents call for more action after series of damaged vehicles

“But there is a lot of work being done to get to a complete understanding, and an investigation is still going on.

"An arrest has since been made.

“Some don’t want to ring because they don’t think anything will be done because communition hasn't been great in the past.

"But I come in and I try my best if I know there is something happening.                                                                                                                                                  “And can’t come to every single job, but if we don’t know what is going on, we can’t do anything.”

She explained that on one occasion she was aware of three damaged vehicles, but later found out that six more had also been damaged.

PCSO Goddard said: “There has been positive action on the back of people telling us what is happening, so we always welcome this.”                                                                 

She says that she is also trying to be more visible in the area and hopes to get to know the area and the issues through more police surgeries.

Emma says that she also hoping to get the police surgeries to a stage where they are monthly, alongside the coffee mornings held at the UCAN Centre on Mackenzie Street.